Police ask for help to solve 1981 murder of man found dead in adult bookstore

STREETSBORO, Ohio — Police are asking for help in the cold case of a man murdered in an adult book store 35 years ago.

Streetsboro police say that on Nov. 20, 1981, James L. Allen was found dead inside Portage News, located at the intersection of state Route 14 and state Route 43.

Allen had been an employee at the book store, and responding officers found that he’d been beaten and stabbed.

According to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, although money from the cash register as well as coins from the video machines had been taken, it is unknown if robbery was the sole motive for the murder.

The victim’s car was also stolen, and was later recovered approximately one mile away.

The case remains unsolved. Anyone with information is asked to call Streetsboro police.

“Although this case is 35 years old, we would like nothing more than to bring the person responsible to justice,” Streetsboro police said on Facebook.